Day 265 - Friday, September 12th

[papalobo]

[A Chinese man who is definitely a mature adult and not a teenager checks in to the Hyatt, one of their more exclusive rooms, along with his half-white half brother who is also certainly not a teenager and most definitely not the notorious gang leader wanted on suspicion of a September 11th New York City bombing in retaliation for an angry rogue sect of anti-American zealots.

The entire suite floor has been rented out, and it requires a special key card in the elevator and on the stairs to enter that floor. But they can rent one of the still very luxe rooms directly beneath.

A familiar white limo is in the car garage, though the opportunity to gawk or investigate is slim, between the security cameras and live guards.

There's still no contact from Max, but the Department of Homeland Security has become involved, and has begun to enter Ash's territory with intent to arrest any known figures within his gang to bring in for questioning.]

Day 284, Wednesday, Oct 1st

Comments

[jadedlynx]

[ Peter will be quick to point out that he might not have had to resort to such tactics if his basic rights hadn't been taken from him. Nonetheless, he doesn't disagree so much as he wants everyone to remember that Max is also a victim.

Not fully understanding, Ash keeps asking.

The fever spikes. He's back during their first attacks, hands in his hand, face against the cold table. He demands Doyle be allowed to sit in on the questioning, but he isn't talking about the questions they're asking now.

In his delirium, some information leaks. 'I don't care who you are, you can't keep his medicine from him! I'm answering the questions!' 'Like I think you'll really help me if I do it!" And then, the classics of "I"m not a whore!" "Get out of here!" and "Don't touch me!" ]

[papalobo]

[During the delirium fits, investigators and attorneys bring in several photos of men who may have been on the premises with him, seeing if they can see a pattern in who he reacts to and who worked a shift. Mixed in are those who are completely unrelated, plain models and the like to work as a contrast to see if in this state he even can identify his attackers, or is jumping at shadows.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Even now, his mind is strong, but it's used against him as it conjures up the men in front of him. For some, he seems to shrink back into himself. If some of the more violent ones were shown, he's more likely to swipe at the photo. 'I don't care if you tell them I tried to escape, it's not the only lie you're making up about me'.

The innocent men are just as obvious. If they look like officers, Ash stays relatively calm and asks for Doyle, a lawyer, or both. If they're in plain clothes, he's confused and asks how they got in. Do they know Max? ]

[papalobo]

[After the more heated reactions, they decide it's best for him not to be exposed to further stressful questioning. But flowers are brought to his room, not that he's likely to get up and read any name tags.

The flowers lined up for his room include peonies, cattails, yellow roses, and a white Casablanca, if he can identify them.]

[jadedlynx]

[ The fever peaks, and then it breaks. The antibiotics do well to keep it from returning. On the first day, he sleeps nearly the entire time. By day 2, he's confused by the flowers. Still too weak to get out of bed for any reason, he'll ask who they're from. ]

[papalobo]

[The Peonies are from a Mr. Wu, the cattails from a Mr. Lee, yellow roses from a Mr. Sing, and the Casablanca from a Mr. Reedwolf.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Did they say Sing? Ash pushes himself to sit up. Did they say anything else? ]

[papalobo]

[Not many messages or contact were allowed through, so the most they can leave are names.

Even if there is some flower language, it was deemed not to possibly be any kind of trigger word to launch a Manchurian Candidate response.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Maybe Sing is okay?

But Yut Lung wouldn't send him flowers. Are they all from Blanca? Is he telling Ash something? As if he can read it. But he wouldn't give Ash bad news right now. Sing is probably fine.

He'll ask to see Max again.

And again on day 3.

By day 4, with the help of an IV, he gains a lot of strength. What about now? ]

[papalobo]

[Unfortunately, while Ash is now free on bond, Max is not, the judge deeming him a terrible flight risk, and having also had an ankle monitor in the past that didn't seem to stop a damn thing.

Ash isn't the most trustworthy for staying put either, but with what he's been through, there's a little more pressure to ease up on him. The fact that Yut Lung Lee has been ultimately deemed safe and affirms that he doesn't have reason to believe Ash Lynx was involved and that they were largely on... if not pleasant, at least non-hostile terms, likely helps.

Max biting guards does not help.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Can't it be eased up enough for Ash to visit him? It's proven he didn't take Wu. Yut Lung doesn't believe him to be the bomber, and the men who accused him of such were the same ones to falsely accuse him of taking Wu. He was told that the assault charges pre-arrest would be dropped, and the assault charges after came only after unfair treatment. A visit to him shouldn't be that big of an ask. ]

[papalobo]

[There's also the matter of Ash's health, and matters pertaining to his identity fraud.]

[jadedlynx]

[ He'll check himself out AMA if he has to. As for the fraud, meeting Max wouldn't change it. He was confident he could proof Dino drugged him when out in public, and it was the state that sold him; Dino had his name legally changed. ]

[papalobo]

[His lawyers recommend against saying anything regarding identity fraud; they intend to imply he had admitted to it falsely under duress. They are able to tell him that Max and Jessica alike refused to confirm or deny anything about that matter, and Michael was deemed young enough that having been questioned without a lawyer present about when he met Ash and how was inadmissable due to answering, again, under duress.

The prosecutor, however, urges him to confess officially again in exchange for a faster chance to meet with Max, now knowing what an important carrot it can be in the carrot and stick game.]

[jadedlynx]

[ It wasn't a lie; he'd confessed to help Wu. Getting into that room would've taken days, at least, and who knew when they planned to dispose of him?

So, he stuck to the lawyer's story, but he also pushed the lawyers to try and get him access to Max. Max will calm down once he sees Ash is okay. He'll fake being better than he is when they meet. ]

[papalobo]

[Ash is a free man, aside from being put on hold for being able to continue studying for a pilot's license, or obtaining any chemical materials.

But as long as Ash abides by the lawyer's advice to say nothing more on his identity, it will be October 10th before he's able to meet Max. If he's willing to confess it again, they'll allow it as early as the 6th.]

[jadedlynx]

[ A lot has to happen before then though when they try to get him to confess again, Ash will point out that now that he has access to food, water, and a lawyer, he won't be bullied.

He'll be released on October 1, if with internal stitches. The first thing he does is buy a new cell and try to call Sing. ]

[babyboss]

Ash?!

[He answers within one ring.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Maybe he should call Shawn. Maybe he should call Alex. Maybe work should be higher on his list, but he's tired. Ash Lynx is tired, and Max is still locked up, and he can still feel their hands on him and their bodies in him. He's driving home, eyes on the road, but he wants to bury himself in a blanket until Max is released.

None of that will happen. He'll still have to keep working. ]

Guess you're not in a sewer after all.

[babyboss]

I--You... It's... You're out now? I'll come---I can't---I'll have someone come get... Where are you? How are you?

[jadedlynx]

Not in the mood to talk about what you're talking about.

[ Sing knows. Blanca? He has to guess it trickled down from there. He assumed as much from the flowers. But why would he add that detail? ]

Where were you?

[babyboss]

I... don't know. I really don't know anything... Like usual.

[jadedlynx]

You don't remember what happened to you?

[babyboss]

I'd ended up having to go with some guys, but after that, it's a lot of blurs. I was asked a lot of questions about you, but I don't.... even remember how I answered.

[jadedlynx]

[ The Lings. ]

How'd you get out?

[ Blanca? ]